TENAGA Nasional Berhad (TNB) is known for its memorable and heartfelt festive themed short films and advertisements. This year, the national power company unveiled another short film for the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration which is bound to tug at heartstrings.
Titled ‘Reality Not Virtual’ the film combines elements of tradition with futuristic technology to tell the story of the recently independent Bryan who decided not to go home for the festive celebration to be with his family, opting instead to spend his time working.
While at work, Bryan receives a delivery at his desk, it’s a box from his mother containing a smartphone Virtual Reality (VR) headset decked out in Chinese themed decorations. He promptly puts it on, and chaos ensues.
He destroys an architectural model which tosses yee sang in VR, takes a tissue paper from a dispenser while thinking he is receiving red packets in VR, and causes other wanton destruction in sync with the VR scenario he is experiencing through the headset.
Of course, the film ends on a heartwarming note. Convinced by his mom’s CNY VR experience, Bryan decided that he would go home for CNY after all. Coincidentally, a bus ticket pops up from the VR headset, and his boss forgives him for the disarray.
TNB’s chief corporate officer Datuk Wira Roslan Ab. Rahman describes the short film as “the joys of reuniting with family for that once-a-year celebration [with] a virtual reality spin.”
“Filled with humour, ‘Reality Not Virtual’ sends a deeper message that celebrations are best experienced in real life, with people who matter the most - family,” added Roslan.
The short film was posted on TNB’s official YouTube channel (youtube.com/TENAGAofficial) since Jan 17. A 60 second cut of the film will appear on TV from Jan 23.
In conjunction with the ad, TNB is running an Energy Efficiency Contest featuring the main cast of the film in a 360-degree video. Just log onto facebook.com/TNBCareline to participate and win prizes, including a brand new smartphone. You can also share festive GIFs and stickers on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for ‘TNB Chinese New Year’.
